Who is the missing pregnant woman?

Her family shares stories of Jessie Davis, describing her as a doting mom, a caring family member and an organized young woman whose house was spotless.

Melissa Griffy Seeton

Three weeks before her due date, Jessie Davis had already made her baby, Chloe Leann, part of her life.

“We love you! Happy Birthday. Love, Jess, Blake and Chloe,” Davis signed the birthday card she gave to her younger sister Audrey.

That was less than a week before Jessie Davis disappeared.

Davis is not the type of person who would just leave a child behind, or take off without a trace at nine months pregnant, her family said.

She’s the kind of mom who calls from work several times a day just to check in on her 2-year-old.

“Has he eaten? Has he taken his nap?,” she’d ask.

The search continued Wednesday for the young mother who was reported missing Friday morning. Investigators aren’t ruling anything out.

“She is always taking care of everyone,” said Audrey, who turned 20 six days before her sister disappeared. “That’s just Jessie.”

'A ROCK’

Davis is the kind of sister who just gets it. She gets people and knows how to make them feel cared for and loved, Audrey said.

Family described Davis as a “matriarch” and one to “take charge.”

Born in Waco, Texas, in 1981, Davis is the oldest of four girls.

Twenty-three-year-old Jane is next, followed by twin girls, Whitney and Audrey. There are also three boys in the family, Christopher, 18; Caylon, 16; and David, who is 12.

Jane describes her sister as “a rock.”

“She’s the strongest individual I know,” she said.

The girls grew up in a family with strong Christian values. When she was 17, Davis went on a missions trip to South Africa. She later went to Russia where she visited orphanages, shared the Gospel in churches and on the streets.

Members of the family’s church, House of the Lord in Akron, described the family as close-knit, pleasant and accepting.

“It didn’t make a difference to them we are black,” said Elder Cathy Johnson of the family. The inner-city church has about an 85 percent black congregation.

'A MOM TO US’

Though the girls were homeschooled growing up, Davis had a short stint in public school before beginning high school at Coventry, where she graduated.

In the second grade, she was already asserting her independence and take-charge attitude. She had a teacher who insisted on calling her “Jessica.” Davis insisted on simply being called “Jessie.”

If the family missed church, Davis would hold a church service for her sisters on their back porch.

“She has been a mom to us since she was 10,” said Jane, who works with Davis
as an underwriter at Allstate Insurance in Hudson.

The family moved around a lot while the children were growing up - from Texas to Florida to Pennsylvania to Ohio.

“We didn’t grow up with all the same kids,” Audrey said. “We always had to stay close to each other.”

ORDERLY DAUGHTER

After 26 years of marriage, parents Edward “Ned” Davis and Patricia “Patty”
Davis divorced last year. Patty took her maiden name “Porter.” Some of the
girls have, too.

Davis’ father called Jessie “jellybean” growing up, and recalled walking into
her room one evening to find his eldest sitting at her child-sized desk.

“She was very diligently making her to-do list for tomorrow,” he said with a
smile.

But Davis was still young enough that she couldn’t write. The scribbles, her
dad guessed, made sense to the girl who would grow up to be known for her
order and neatness. Her home is always spotless, Audrey pointed out, and she
even makes sure every leaf on her plants face in just the right direction.

“Jessie was also quite a swimmer,” said her father. “Is. Is. Is quite a
swimmer,” he repeated as he started to tear up while talking about his
daughter Wednesday afternoon.

FAMILY FIRST

Davis graduated from Coventry High School in 1999. She was in the sports
medicine program there and worked as a trainer for the football team. She
had aspirations of pursuing the profession. Davis was listed in Who’s Who
among high school students and nominated for the National Youth Forum for
Medicine.

“Jessie loved high school - everyone knew her,” Audrey said.

But after a year at Kent State University, she dropped out of school.

Family said she needed some time to decide exactly what she wanted to do.

At 23, she gave birth to her son, Blake.

“Her being happy was the important thing,” said Jane of her sister’s
pregnancy out of wedlock. “No person is without sin. We never felt
disappointed; she always wanted kids.”

And for Davis, family - especially her son, Blake - always came first.